The 'final performance' of Prince's quintessential Purple Rain

A US fan claims to have filmed what was to be Prince's final performance in Atlanta last week, capturing the incredible ballad, Purple Rain, despite strict protocols banning recording.

Even though the artist was battling ill-health (he was hospitalised with the flu last week on April 16), the recording shows the mighty entertainer delivering a powerful and emotional rendition of what is arguably his most famous song.

Many today still consider Purple Rain, released in 1984, as an album that changed the face of music on the planet forever, a quintessential masterpiece that perfectly culminated the very best sounds the reclusive artist ever produced.

Not only was the album critically acclaimed but it earned him two Grammy awards in 1985 and coincided with the release of a film by the same name featuring hits like When Doves Cry, and Let's Go Crazy.

Later that year Prince's accomplishments were again recognised when he was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score, for Purple Rain.

Over the span of his prolific career, Prince produced dozens of commercially released albums, augmented by an extensive back catalogue of work he kept in his vault at Paisley Park.